ACT III - Scene III Quiz — Hamlet

Why does Claudius decide to send Hamlet to England?

• To give Hamlet a diplomatic mission
• Because Hamlet's madness makes him a danger to the court
• To punish Hamlet for the play-within-the-play
• Because Gertrude requests it

To what biblical event does Claudius compare his murder of King Hamlet?

• The betrayal of Judas
• The fall of Adam and Eve
• The murder of Abel by Cain
• The destruction of Sodom

What three things does Claudius say he gained through his crime and cannot give up?

• Power, wealth, and territory
• The crown, his ambition, and his queen
• The throne, Denmark, and Hamlet's loyalty
• Forgiveness, peace of mind, and the crown

What metaphor does Claudius use to describe his trapped soul?

• A ship caught in a storm
• A bird caught in birdlime
• A prisoner in chains
• A fly caught in a spider's web

What is Hamlet's primary reason for not killing Claudius in this scene?

• He is afraid of the guards nearby
• He is not certain Claudius is guilty
• He believes killing Claudius at prayer would send him to heaven
• He wants to confront Claudius publicly first

What does Rosencrantz compare the king to in his speech?

• A mighty oak tree
• A massy wheel fixed on the highest mount
• A great ship on the sea
• A fortress on a hill

What is the dramatic irony in this scene?

• Claudius does not know that Hamlet saw the Ghost
• Hamlet does not realize Claudius's prayer is failing, so he spares him unnecessarily
• Polonius does not know he will be killed in the next scene
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern do not know about the letters

What is the meaning of Claudius's final couplet: "My words fly up, my thoughts remain below"?

• He is planning to send a message to England
• His prayers are insincere because his thoughts are still focused on earthly gains
• He is speaking to someone hiding below the stage
• He realizes Hamlet has been listening

Which of these events actually happened in this chapter?

In the context of this scene, what does "rank" mean in "O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven"?

• High in status or position
• Arranged in order
• Foul-smelling and morally offensive
• Abundant or plentiful

What does "hent" mean in Hamlet's line "Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent"?

• A sheath or scabbard
• A target or victim
• A seizing or occasion to grasp
• A sharp edge or blade

What does "limed" mean in Claudius's phrase "O limed soul"?

• Covered in limestone dust
• Brightened or illuminated
• Caught with birdlime, a sticky trapping substance
• Weakened by disease